Athletics News Release

Bulldog baseball eliminates Warner, 11-6

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - 5/13/2009 - The Union (Tenn.) University Bulldogs knocked off the Royals of Warner (Fla.) University 11-6 in the Bulldog's second game of the 2009 NAIA National Baseball Tournament Opening Round. The Bulldogs move to 37-18 on the year. With the loss, Warner ends their 2009 campaign with an overall record 37-18.

Alex Turner and Josh Jones picked up three hits each in the Bulldog's win, keeping their postseason hopes alive as the Warner Royals were eliminated from the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening Round Tournament held at Sliwa Stadium on the campus of Embry-Riddle (Fla.) University.

Both Turner and Jones were 3-for-4 in the game, with Turner picking up two runs and one RBI while Jones marked one of each run scored and RBI. The duo started off the Bulldog’s offense in the first inning as they loaded the bases with back-to-back hit by pitches after Danny Grimm led off the game with a single. Clean-up hitter, Grant Luke knocked a drive into left field to score the two lead runners. Jones ran the final 90-feet to increase the lead to three on a passed ball before Corey Rudolph marked the Bulldog’s third single of the inning to score Luke from third base.

The Royals responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning as Justin Zanella, Corey Johnson and Shane Ynclan all crossed the dish. Zanella hit a one-out double into left field and Johnson followed him on the base path two batters later as he was hit by a pitch. Both runners were knocked in on a two-out double off the left field wall. He was knocked in on a Ryan Paul single into left.

Union tallied three runs in the seventh inning to secure the win. The Royals attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth but, a Bulldog's pitching change gave the added defensive effort to take the game. The Bulldogs tallied four runs ompared to the Royals one run in the ninth inning.

Jeremy Stack earned his eighth win of the season as he threw seven and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on five hits while striking out four. Kevin Kirskey picked up his fourth save of the year, closing the game for the Bulldogs. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out two.

Union advances to the 5 pm elimination game against Auburn University-Montgomery (Ala.) at Sliwa Stadium on the campus of Embry-Riddle.